Device for starting torpedoes



No. 621,364. Patented Mar. 2|, I899. L. UBRY.

DEVICE FOR STARTING TURPEDOES.

(Application filed 181115128, 1898.)

(No Model.)

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No. 62!,364. Patented Mar. 2|, I899.

L.- OBRY.

DEVICE FOR STARTING TORP EDOES. (Application filed May 28, 1898.) (NoModel.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Patented Mar. 2|, I899.

No. 62l,364.

L. osnv. DEVICE FOR STARTING TORPEDOES. (Application filed may 28,1898.)

3 Sheats-$heet 3.

(No Model.)

I fizz/633011 [walls- 95/ 'Nirnn STATES ATENT Fries.

LUDVIG OBEY, OF POLA, AUSTRIA-HUNGARY.

DEVICE FOR STARTING TORPEDOES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 621,364, dated March21, 1899.

Application filed May 28,1898.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, LUDW'IG OBRY, a subject of the Emperor ofAustria-Hungary, re-

- act description.

7 ofthe ring.

This invention relates to certain improvements in the device forsteering torpedoes protected by my United States Patent No.

562,235, granted June 16, 1896.

These improvements have reference to a novel arrangement for adjustingthe fiy-wheel shaft in its normal position before starting, retainingsuch shaft in place while in operation, and releasing the same after therotary impulse has been imparted to it, and, furthermore, theseimprovements extend to a novel air-distributing mechanism for theservomotor.

An apparatus provided with these improvements is shown in theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of theapparatus. Fig. 2 is acorresponding side elevation thereof viewed fromthe left-hand side of Fig. 1, the spring-barrel and spring and thebellshaped driving-segment wedged thereon being omitted for the sake ofclearness. Fig. 3 is a plan corresponding to Fig. 1. Fig. tis a sectionalong line x a: of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 represents the air-distributingmechanism in a position corresponding to that in which the apparatus isshown in Fig. 1, being a vertical section along line 1 y of Fig. 3 onlarger scale. Fig. 6 is a corresponding horizontal section on line a .2of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a vertical section on line 0; o of Fig. 6. Figs. 8,9, and 10 are enlarged sections on lines 1 1, 2 2, and 3 3 of Fig. 5,respectively.

As will be seen from Figs. 1 to 4, the whole of the apparatus is mountedin an annular frame M, which is firmly held in position on the rests orbrackets m m secured within the torpedo, by means of two lugs m m, Fig.2. In Figs. 1, 3, and 4: the brackets m m are not shown. Integral withthe annular frame M there are cast two pairs of arms m m m m, extendingat right angles to the plane Between one pair of arms is supported thevertical gimbal-riugp of the gyro- Serial No. 682,064. (No model.)

scope system, which at two points situated in a diameter at right anglesto its pivotal axis carries adjustable points or centers which serve forsupporting the horizontal gimbal-ring g, which ring in its turn supportsin the well-known manner between adj ustable centers the shaft 7', ofthe fly-wheel R, which also carries asmall bevel driving-wheel 1*.Between the other two arms an, projecting at right angles to the planeof the ring M, there is supported the shaft CtOf the driving mechanism,Whereon a hollow conical segment A is keyed, which is worked at itsannular basis and is there in gear with the driving-wheel r of thefly-wheel. This engagement, however, only takes place when the shaft 1*occupies the position shown in Figs. 1 to 4 and whilethe toothed segmentA is turning its full part toward the said shaft 1'.

An enga in in rovided on theupper a 0P 2 p side of the vertical ring 1),enters between the two prongs of the fork P, Figs. 2 and 3, which isclamped by means of a screw 19 upon the shaft of the circularslide-valve s, serving to control the servomotor by means of a screw 19so that the strokes of the vertical ring p directly control the way inwhich the air is distributed in the cylinder S of the 'servomotor, andalso consequently the direction of the stroke or swing of the siderudder operated by the said cylinder through the medium of thepiston-rod S, Figs. 1 and 2. The manner in which the turns of the arm 19or the circular side valve .9 influence the air distribution shall bedescribed farther on to Wit, in paragraph 3while what is hereinafterdealt with first of all are the following parts: 'first, the devicewhich serves to wind up the spring-spindle to hold the same securely inthe wound-up condition and to release it, and, second, the deviceserving to turn the gryoscope-rings into their normal position prior tocommencing to Wind up the spring, to retain such rings in place untilthe spring runs out, and to release them after it has run out in such amanner that the gyroscope shall remain solely dependent upon the freedisplay of the forces acting upon the unrestrained fly-wheel shaft.

1. The spring-motor and the means for winding up and releasing thescmnc.-The spring-motor consists of a shaft a, supported between twoarms m of the ring M and carrying a spring A, one end of which is in thewell-known manner secured to the shaft 0., while its other end isattached to the lower arm m. Onto the shaft a there is keyed the hollowconical segment A, the toothed lower edge of which, as before mentioned,is in gear with the bevel-pinion r, Fig. 4. The lower end of theshaft-ct carries the toothed disk a, upon which there is adapted toslide a tappet a rigidly secured upon a shaft 19, supported between twofork-shaped ends of one of the arms m. Upon the shaft 1) there isfurther keyed an arm I), to the end of which a horizontal pin 17 ispivoted, the extremity of which pin protrudes through the perforation0", Fig. 4, of a horizontal arm 4*, which is wedged or keyed upon avertical spindle 0, supported between two projections m cast integralwith the ring M, Fig. 2. Between the pivoted end of the pin 19 which isfitted with a collar or flange, and the arm 2- there is interposed aspring b which tends to turn the arm I) to the left, as indicated by thearrow 4 in Fig. 4, and the arm r to the right in the direction of thearrow 5. Owing to this tendency the tappet a takes up its position infront of the tooth of the disk at, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 4, andwhile in this situation hinders the spring-arbor from turning in thedirection of the arrow, Figs.

3 and 4. On the vertical shaft d, Fig.1, which when the air-valve leveris pulled off is turned in the direction of the arrow 2, there is keyedan inclined arm d, Figs. 3 and 4, at the end of which there is provideda setscrew 01 the head of which abuts against the end of the arm I) ofthe shaft 1). The said screw (1 is so adjusted that it will touch thelever 19 in the position where the arm a is at rest when the air-valvelever (not shown) and which controls the shaft d is in its closingposition. I

2. The device for adjusting the gyr0sc0pe. The device which serves tobring back the fly-wheel R to its normal position prior to setting theapparatus in motion mainly consists of a lever f, Figs. 2 and 4, bent'atseveral points and terminating in a fork, such lever being pivoted to avertical arm m, integral with the supporting-ring M, while the prongs ff, Figs. 2 and 4, of its fork, arranged paralled to its plane ofrotation, engage one seetional area of the Vertical ring 19 of thegyroscope, as illustrated in Fig. 4, at two points which are situated ona diameter perpendicular to its pivotal axis. The sectional area of thevertical gyroscope-ring p is limited laterally by parallel surfaces,Fig. 2, the distance between which equals the clear distance between theprongs f f of the lever f. Toward its axis of oscillation the section orwidth of the ring 19 becomes reduced, so that when the lever f is turnedinto the position marked in dotted lines in Fig. 2 it incloses thereduced portion of the said ring 19 and enables it to swing out of itsnormal position in either direction. When, however, the le ver f ismoved from its dotted depressed position, Fig. 2, into the raisedposition, one of the prongs f f of the fork (should the ring 19 happento be out of its normal position) will strike one of the two sides ofthe ring 1), whereby it will, in proportion to the extent of its upwardturn or stroke, restore the said ring to its normal situation, whereineventually it will retain the same. Inasmuch as the prongs f f of theforked lever f project inwardly beyond the sectional area of the ring 3and extend into the space traversed by the horizontal ring q, Figs. 2and 4, so that they are situated on opposite sides of the axis ofrotation of such ring, they will at the same time as the ring 19 turnsreturn the horizon tal ring q also to its horizontal position, which itshould invariably retain. When, on the other hand, it is desired torelease the gyroscope system, it suffices to turn the lever f,

.just described, from its raised position (shown in full lines) to itsdotted depressed position, Fig. 2. The armfis turned by means of the armf keyed onto the shaft or spindle b, Fig. 4, the end of which arm f isconnected with the said arm f by adraw rod or link f. The spring 19which has been described above as acting upon the arm I) of the spindleb, imparts to the arm f a tendency to swing outward in the upwarddirection. Accordingly the lever f will invariably take up its uppermostposition, in which it is shown in full lines in Fig. 2, so long as thespindle b is not otherwise influenced; but when the airvalve lever isbrought to the open position and when as a result of this movement,according to what has already been stated, the spindle d receives a turnin the direction of the arrow 2 the arm I) will be turned by theswinging arm d in the direction of the arrow 3 and with it theadjusting-lever f also will be turned downward.

The parts f f hereinabove described merely serve, as already explained,for turning the gyroscope back to its normal position. They are retainedin place while the shaft or spindle r is being operated by the arm 0*,already mentioned, with apoint or center which-while the gyroscopeoccupies its normal. position engages in a corresponding recess in thehorizontal gyroscope-ring q. (See the position shown in Fig. 4.)

Upon the vertical pivot or spindle c of the arm 4' there is keyed atappet a Figs. 1, 2, and 3, which slides upon the outer surface of thebell or segment A. In the horizontal plane of the said tappet a a lug orincline a is formed on the said bell A in such a situation that it comesto be located underneath the said tappet a and turns the same in thedirection of the arrow 6, Fig. 3, when the bell A reaches the last stageof its unwinding motion, and thus moves out of gear with the pinion 1',owing to the fact that the portion of the bell A which is cut away hascome to be-situ ated above the spindle r. In consequence of the turningof the tappet a the spindle c, and the arm a comes to lie in contactwith the with it the arm r carrying the center point T is made to resistor counteract the action of the spring 12 and is pressed in thedirection of the arrow 7, Fig. eti. 8., out of the center recess of thegyroscope-ring g, which is accordingly released.

Operation of the mechanism described in paragraphs 1 and 2.To explainthe operation, we will suppose that, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, thespring A is wound up,the air-valve closed, and the two lockingdevices-via, f and f on one side and r and r on the other sideare in theoperative position-in other words, that the torpedo is in readiness tobe shot off. As the torpedois launched the turning of the air-valvelever causes the spindle (Z and arm (1' to turn in the direction of thearrow 2, so that the screw (1 strikes the arm 1). Owing to the rotarymovement thus imparted to the arm I), and also consequently to thespindle b, the following changes take place in the mechanism at the sametime: first, the arm a comes out of engagement with the toothed disk a,so that the spring-arborais released from its arresting device and thesegment A turns in the direction of the arrow 1, Fig. 3, therebyimparting a rotary impulse to the spindle 0'; second, the arm f swingsdown ward and moves the looking or arresting leverff into the dottedposition, Fig.2, whereby the gyroscope system is released fromengagement with the said lever ff; third, the arm 7' or the center 1' isby the movement of the arm I) in the direction of the arrow 5, Fig. 4,under the action of the spring 19 pressed with added force into centerrecess of the ring q and locks the spindle r in position while itreceives the rotary impulse from the segment A. WVhile the spindle r isbeing driven, no change takes place in the mechanism. WVhen the cut-awayportion of the bell A at length comes to take up its position over thepinion a", the tappet a is turned by the incline a in the direction ofthe arrow 6, and with it the arm 0' in the direction of the arrow 6,Fig. 4, so that the center r releases the ring q, with the result thatthe gyroscope remains fully exposed to the free action of the forcesthat are exercised upon it. At the same time with the incline a the stopa, provided on'the bell, comes into operation and strikes the arm aloose upon the shaft a, the

forked end whereof protrudes through a slot in the cylinder S and graspsthe piston provided in the latter. Under the action of the stop thepiston a is shifted to the right, and the air cushion confined andcompressed within the cylinder S acts as a brake upon the bell A andbrings the same to a stop without any concussion. To make the torpedoonce more ready for launching, the air-valve lever is first of all movedto the closed position, whereby the swinging piece d is made to returnto the position shown in Figs. 1 to 4. This places the spindle bentirely under the influence of the spring b again, so that disk a, thelever f swinging upward and restoring the gyroscope to its position ofrest in the manner already explained. The lever r however, continues inthe position to which it had moved in descending since the tappet a isstill resting upon the incline a Now when the spring A is compressed bymeans of a square key fitted into the spindle or arbor a, or, in otherwords, when A is turned in the direction opposite to that to whichpoints the arrow 1, the tappet a in the first place slides off theincline a whereby the arm 7' is conducted back to its stationaryposition. As the operation of winding up the spring on the arbor a iscompleted the arm a slides over the tooth of the disk a and retains thespring-arbor in the wound-up position.

The following is a description of the airdistributing mechanism operatedby the. motion of the ring r:

3. The air-distributing mechanism. -As will be seen from the diagramFig.1,tliis mechanism is mounted in the most elevated position of thering- M, carrying the gyroscope mechanism, and mainly consists of abalanced valve or plug 3, which, in the manner above indicated, isoperated by a pin 19, provided on the vertical ring p of the gyroscope.The plug or valve 3 is held in place in the valve-chest H by a cross-barsupported by springs p and by two set-screws p passed through the saidfork. The valve chest is in the shape of a truncated cone H, providedwith an axial cylindrical perforation h and held in the depressedposition by the springs 19*, such cone being fitted in a conical recess,on the inner surface of which terminate on different levels both theadmission orinlet port Z and the channels Z Z leading to the two sidesof the cylinder. On the level of each of the three orifices Z Z Z thecone H is provided on its outer surface with an annular groove h h, andh Figs. 8, 9, and 10, respectively. On the level of the central grooveh, Fig. 9, there passes through the cone H a diametrical perforation 72,and on the level of the upper and lower groove h and h respectively,there are similar diametrical perforations h and h, respectively, whichare situated at ninety degrees to the perforation h Thus in the-innersurface of the cylindrical perforation h of the cone H there are formedsix apertures situatedon three different planes or levels, on two ofwhich levels, the one above andthe one below the intermediate level, theapertures are situated in a plane at ninety degrees to the lineconnecting the two openings or the intermediate level. The perforationsof the intermediate level communicate with the inlet Z, while those onthe two other levels are connected to the cylinder channels or ports Z ZThe plug 8, which is tightly fitted in the cylindrical bore h of thecone H, is provided with an axial perforation 8, open at the top andextending down nearly to the bottom of the plug, the lower end beingclosed by the material of the plug and on a level with the intermediateor central groove h of the cone H. It is further provided with anannular groove 15, formed on its outer surface, with which the channels71. are in constant communication. This groove 6 is joined by four othergrooves parallel with the axis of the plug, of which the twodiametrically opposite grooves 25 t, Fig. 8, extend in the upwarddirection to the level of the channels h, while the two others, 25 t",Fig. 10, reach down to the level of the lower channels h. The grooves tt, extending upward, are situated in a diametrical plane, forming apredetermined angle-say thirty degreesto that of the downward grooves tt. On a level with the perforation h a diametrical perforation 3 extendsthrough the plug 8, Fig. 10, the orifices of which perforation lie inthe generatrices of the vertical grooves 25 On a level with theperforation h a diametrical perforation 3 passes through the said plug3, Fig. 8. The orifices of this perforation lie in the generatrices ofthe vertical grooves 15 As will be seen, therefore, the plug ordistributing valve 8 is of a perfectly diametrical shape, its operationbeing as follows: The compressed air, traveling through the channel 1,enters the annular groove h of h, Fig. 9, and, through the two arms ofthe channel 72. brushes into the central groove 2? of the rotarydistributing valve or plug 8, and hence both into the two upward groovest t and into the two downward grooves t i both of which pairs of groovesare formed on the circumferential surface of the said plug or valve .9.So long as the valve 8 retains the intermediate position represented inthe sections Figs. 8 and 10 the two channels If and h, leading to thecylinder, remain covered; but the moment the said valve 3 is turned outof that position in the direction of the arrow 1 by the fork P, whichtakes part in the motion of the gyroscope-ring p, the grooves 15 moveinto coincidence with the channels h, while the lower perforations icome to coincide with the channels h. The compressed air accordingly nowflows through the channels it and the annular groove h into the channelZ, while at the same time the channel 1 comes into commu nication withthe atmosphere through the perforations h h Should the gyroscope swingin the opposite direction and thereby cause the circular slide-valve sto be turned in the direction of the arrow 2, the air would also bedistributed in the opposite direction. Thus, according to the mode ofair distribution or to the direction of the movement of the gyroscope p,the piston-rod s will be moved either backward or forward, therebyoperating the side rudder in the well-known manner. For the purpose ofaccurately adjusting the valve-chest H adj Listing-screws p enable thevalve to be set as required. As will be understood from thisarrangement,the

compressed air is invariably admitted and discharged at diametricallyopposite points of the valve 8, so that the valve is entirely releasedfrom any pressure and no resistance interferes with its rotary motion.

I claim as my invention* 1. In a device for steering torpedoes, of theclass specified, means for arresting and retaining in its normalposition, the gyroscope, consisting of the gimbal-rings p and q, theformer having an enlarged squared cross-section formed at each side ofsame intermediate of its pivots, and a lever fpivotally mounted inproximity to said rings, and having forked end f to engage the saidenlarged cross-section of the gimbal-ring 10 said forks being adapted toengage under the lower edge of the ringq, means for spring-pressing saidlever against the said gimbal-rings and means in connection with theair-valve of the torpedo-motor to turn said lever and release saidgyroscope when the said air-valve is opened, substantially as described.

2. In the device for steering torpedoes comprising a gyroscope, andbeing of the class specified, a device for arresting the fly-wheelshaft, at the moment when the gyroscope is set in motion, consisting ofa pivotallymounted lever r having a point or pin r to engage adepression in the end of the fly-wheel shaft of the gyroscope, when thelatter is in its normal position, a spring-pressed rod 1) to retain saidlever in its operative position, a bevel-gear on the fly-wheel shaft anda bellshaped segment, to engage said bevel-gear, means for rotating saidsegment, and a cam arranged thereon as at a a pawl a pivoted in the pathof said cam, said pivot being also that of the lever-arm r, so that thesaid cam will retract said lever r 'from engagement with thefly-wheel-shaft end when the gyroscope has been set properly in motionsubstantially as described.

3. In a device for steering torpedoes, of the class specified, having aspring-operated bellshaped segment, a gyroscope operated thereby, meansfor retaining said gyroscope in its normal position and meansforcontrolling said retaining mechanism from the air-valve of thetorpedo-motor, a cam-disk a on the shaft 0. of the bell-shaped segment,a shaft 1) mounted in proximity to said segment and having mounted fastthereon a pawl a adapted to en gage said cam-disk and means inconnection with and operated by the air-valve of the torpedo-motor forreleasing said disk when the air-valve is manipulated substantially asdescribed.

4:. In a torpedo-steering device of the class specified, comprising agyroscope, having bevel-gear on its driving-shaft, a bell-shaped segmenthaving teeth on its lower edge to engage said bevel periodically, saidbell-shaped segment being operated by a spring-operated shaft, and meansfor setting said shaft in mo tion when the air-valve of thetorpedo-motor is operated, the combination of a revolubly- ICO mountedshaftb having keyed thereon a lever b and pawl a and a lever-arm f aspringactuated shaft afor the bell-shaped segment mounted approximatelyat right angles to said shaft 5, a disk thereon having stop-cam movablein the path of motion of the said pawl a and adapted to be engaged bythe same, a rod b pivoted to the arm I), a pivotally-mount-ed lever rthrough which said rod end passes said lever-arm r having pin r toarrest the gyroscope-shaft as specified, a spring b encircling said rod79 and adapted to press the arms 1' and b apart, a fork-lever f f asspecified to retain said gyroscope and means for connecting the saidfork-lever to the lever-arm f in the manner and for the purposesubstantially as described.

5. In a torpedo-steering device of the class specified comprising agyroscope and means for setting the same in motion, said means beingoperated by the movement of the air-valve of the torpedo-motor,andconsistingof a bevelgear on the gyroscope-driving shaft and aspring-operated bell-shaped segment in engagement with the same, adevice for receivin g the concussion caused by the sudden stoppage ofthe shaft, consisting of an arm a loosely mounted on the said shaft anaircylinder into which said arm projects a piston in said air-cylinderand means for connecting the said arm to same so as to allow of itsswing in the mannerand for the purpose substantially as described.

6. In a torpedo-steering device of the kind specified comprising agyroscope and means for operating the same substantially as specified,the combination of a pin 13' on the gimleading oif air from the interiorof said hollow stem in the manner and for the purpose substantially asdescribed and shown.

7. In torpedo-steering mechanism of the class specified, comprising agyroscope, the combination of means for arresting said gyroscope in itsnormal position when the apparatus is out of action, means for startingthe said gyroscope, for releasing the retaining means and for arrestingthe starting mechanism, controlled by the movement of the airvalve of atorpedo-motor, an air-distributing valve mounted on an air-cylinder andhaving hollow stem, by which the air-distributing mechanism is operated,a pin on the gimbalring 19 of the gyroscope and a bifurcated lever toembrace said pin, said lever being keyed to the said stem and governingthe movements of the same in the manner and for the purposesubstantially as described and shown and for the purpose specified.

In witness whereof I have hereuntoset my hand in presence of twowitnesses.

LUDVIG OBEY.

\Vitnesses:

FRANCESCO BUTTOK, A. BRUNO.

